More John Gizzi police posters vandalised

A North Wales Police billboard displaying the sentences handed out to John Gizzi and his henchmen

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

HUGE police posters featuring pictures of drug dealer John Gizzi and his gang have been daubed with black paint.

Mugshots of Rhyl gangster Gizzi and his nine henchmen had been put up at sites across Conwy and Denbighshire as part of a high-profile police campaign to deter would-be criminals from dealing drugs.

The bilingual posters tell how the gang was sentenced to a total of 66 years imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court earlier this month. The posters, proclaiming “Serious Crime – Serious Time”, have been paid for through Proceeds of Crime cash.

But vandals daubed black paint over two of the faces in Old Colwyn, and repeatedly threw a duster soaked in black paint at the Pensarn poster near Abergele.

The latter attack left black blotches over the images – with the duster sticking to a wall.

The vandalism comes after bosses at the White Rose Shopping Centre in Rhyl removed a billboard displaying the sentences handed out to John Gizzi and his henchmen after numerous complaints from frightened shoppers.

Now community leaders are calling for the remaining posters to be taken down.

Cllr David Holland, who represents Abergele/Pensarn, does not believe the poster’s message works.

“Nice people already realise crime doesn’t pay and when other people are painting graffiti you are creating crime and it’s not having the desired effect.”

He suggested putting the posters in a less prominent position like a shop.

Cllr Carlisle, who has received 35 complaints from residents about it, said: “It’s a lovely village, a great place to live and work. We don’t see the connection between John Gizzi and with Old Colwyn.”

Cllr Cossey added: “The poster makes it look as if Old Colwyn was their base. Nothing could be further from reality.”

Their concerns were echoed by the resident who lives in the house bearing the defaced poster.

The man in his 30s, who doesn’t wish to be named, didn’t want it there even before the attack because it is an “eyesore”.

He said: “The poster is offensive, ugly and is bringing the whole area down. It’s also naive. Hardened criminals will not change their ways by simply seeing other people on a poster. You may as well say ‘You naughty boy!’ to them.”

North Wales Police would not comment on the vandalism. A spokeswoman said: “We have nothing further to add to what we have said already.”